Archive for Joint Pain Treatment

Are your joints feeling a little stiff? Not moving with the easy fluidity you had in the past? Is it difficult to squat or run, or to simply toss a ball or pick up a child? You’re not alone. Studies indicate between 50 to 75 million people now suffer from painful swollen joints — and the number is increasing.

It’s not that we don’t expect bouts with pain. Accidents and illness occur every day. It’s an obstacle course called ”Life.” Unfortunately, swollen joints are no longer unusual. And that kind of inflammation is associated with several types of disease: gout, fibromyalgia, lupus, and, of course, arthritis. In particular, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two of the most damaging. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflames joints throughout the body. Osteoarthritis (OA) is specifically a physical condition resulting from the wear and tear on the joints. It’s literally a degenerative disease. Because everyone uses every joint every day, this has become the most common reason for swollen joints. It’s an aspect of aging that many can’t escape!

Texas Spine & Wellness understands joint pain treatment and is focused on helping clients achieve, if not a pain-free life, a manageable level that allows a more normal mobility. It can be done with a program of proper diet, exercise, and supplements. We recommend Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate because we’ve found it delivers the best results to ease joint pain and discomfort.

Let’s look more closely at joint pain and at collagen supplements when taken to reduce inflammation.

How does arthritis attack the joints?

Some researchers suggest arthritis may result from a “confusion” that occurs in the immune system after the body has suffered an infection due to a bacteria or virus. The immune system suddenly begins to attack joints, an attack that can expand to other parts of the body. OA can flare up when an affected joint is injured or suffers some trauma. However, because RA is degenerative and associated with the immune system, only immune system changes can result in a flare-up.

As to why joints swell, there are two causes: the joint lining itself swells, or the amount of fluid in the joint increases. Swelling is a very active process. As white blood cells (also called inflammatory cells) and blood enter the joint, proteins are discharged into the soft tissues surrounding the area between the joints and the bones. Proteins are actually inflammatory molecules. Of course, that additional blood flow swells the joint and—doing what blood is intended to do—adds warmth. All those inflammatory materials increase the collection of fluids in and around the joint, and the swelling also increases. Initial swelling encourages more swelling. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy! The end result is damaged bone and cartilage.

How is life affected?

If you have, or have had, inflamed joints, you well know mornings are the worst time for stiffness. You’ve been in bed all night and when you try to bounce up out of bed—wow! You feel like a mannequin. If the stiffness lasts more than an hour, it’s likely inflammatory arthritis. Along with the stiffness is a dull ache you can’t shake, although, thankfully, not all stiffness is accompanied by pain. If you’re stiff after exercising, it’s more likely OA, which indicates the joints are beginning to fail. But you can also feel stiff after resting, such as when you sit after walking or sit just to relax after a long day. It takes some of the pleasure out of simple relaxation. An analogy often used to describe how stiffening joints feel, is to say the sensation is like gelatin setting, a process of gradual firming.

It’s an unpleasant condition for anyone, especially because it can affect any joint in your body: shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Even the jaw can be affected. It affects how you move, how you feel, and your mood. After all, how can you be upbeat when your mobility is limited and, in many cases, you ache as well?

Collagen: what is it and how can it help?

Collagen is a protein that makes up about a quarter of our body mass, which means It’s the most abundant protein within our bodies. It’s also the major component of our connective tissues, a part of the structure in our skin and bones, our hair and nails, and our tendons and ligaments. There’s a singular amino acid blend in collagen that contributes to joint health, muscle growth, and the glow that comes when we feel relatively healthy.

Nutritional supplements made from collagen are derived from animal materials such as beef, pork, or fish bones and skin. It’s processed to make digestion easier. All those amino acids of which it’s comprised are instrumental in building joint cartilage, and it’s believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. By stimulating the production of joint collagen, Collagen Hydrolysate supplements can ease OA symptoms. And collagen is generally well tolerated, with no major side-effects.

Which brings us to Great Lakes Hydrolyzed Collagen protein powder or gelatin supplement and why Texas Spine & Wellness recommends it as your best selection to bring relief to swollen joints. Beef hydrolyzed collagen combines a unique assemblage of 20 amino acids, concentrated in high enough levels to not only promote bone healing, but to provide joint care beyond what other proteins have to offer. It’s designed with a low molecular weight so digestion is easy, and, because of the hydrolization, assimilation is fast, with better hydration in connective tissues. Enrichment of the body’s proteins begins within minutes after taking it.

There are many additional benefits from collagen. Nitrogen balance is one. Nitrogen is believed to be an anti-aging product that supports collagen loss and damage to cartilage that comes with aging. It’s good for all those parts mentioned above: skin, hair, and nails on the outside, and bones, tendons and ligaments on the inside.

We guarantee the quality of this product, which is produced under very strict sanitary conditions, meeting standards established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia. The National Formulary regulates the Pharmacopeia. Having been rigorously tested for pH, strength, moisture and viscosity, Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate can be immediately introduced into various recipes to provide that needed collagen boost

Don’t let stiff joints change your life!

Aching joints and stiffness are often unavoidable due to aging, illness, or injury. But it’s not a condition you have to live with. You do have choices! A selective diet and the right exercise suited to your age and overall condition are the first steps toward healthier joints. The next step is a supplement created purposefully to attack the issue, such as Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate. If you would like to purchase a can for yourself you can purchase it here. The big step after that? Set up regular checkups with your primary doctor and chiropractor, and follow their advice for a healthy life style plan. As a chiropractor in Garland, TX , Dr. Mixon specializes in the treatment of joint pain.

Healthy joints are necessary for a comfortable but active life. Visit Texas Spine & Wellness. We want to help you achieve and maintain the healthy joints you were born with!

Did you ever wonder why cold weather causes joint pain and aching bones? Or what you can do to alleviate your pain?

Weather-induced inflammation

Some scientists believe it’s not actually the cold that affects your joints, but the changes that occur in the weather when temperatures drop from warm to cold. Before the start of bad weather, the atmosphere changes and barometric pressure drops. Barometric pressure is the weight of the surrounding atmosphere, so when that weight lessens, it allows the tissues that encompass the joints to expand. That puts pressure on your poor joints and as your body strives to adjust, the pain begins. It’s even worse if you already suffer from an injury or stressed joints!

Another scientific theory is that joint paint arises from blood flow issues. Cooler temperatures affect circulation, which means there is less blood in joint areas to keep them warm.

And here’s one more theory; 70 percent of our body composition is water, and colder temperatures change the thickness of our joint fluids. Think of how difficult it is to stretch a rubber band after it’s been in the refrigerator! Our bodies, like that rubber band, lose elasticity during cold weather.

Natural treatment for joint pain

There’s simply no denying that when cold moves in, joints tend to swell and tighten. Keeping yourself warm helps with joint and muscle flexibility. And certainly exercising to keep your blood flow healthy and to strengthen your joints is important. But what about the foods you eat? Foods play a far greater role in joint pain than most people realize.

First, let’s look at the foods that worsen the condition. Ideally, you if you suffer from joint pain, you should trying avoiding these foods, or at least lessen how much and how often you eat them.

Dairy milk – Cow’s milk and cream cheese are considered highly inflammatory because of how often they can cause upset stomachs, diarrhea, constipation, hives, and even breathing issues.

Fatty red meats – Unfortunately for those of us who love meat like beef ribs, ground beef, and other fatty cuts, animal fats have been linked to numerous health issues and are tagged as inflammatory culprits.

Cheese – It’s not just cream cheese that is considered an inflammatory because of bad fat. Research indicates about 60-percent of people in the world have difficulty digesting cow’s milk, which is why cheese—especially the varieties high in sodium—can cause inflammation. Natural hard cheeses with less sodium are not as much of an issue.

Margarine – Along with other spreads, margarine is high in partially-hydrogenated oils or trans-fats, and exacerbates inflammatory responses.

Cured, processed meats – These kinds of meat are processed with inflammatory elements such as salt, nitrite, nitrates or sugar to increase their longevity and flavor.

Sugar – A rapid rise in blood sugar is a major cause of inflammation because sugar actually produces biochemical changes in your cells. Avoiding sugar is an important step in preventing sugar-induced inflammation! This includes soft drinks and juices that are sweetened.

Alcohol – Excessive consumption of alcoholic beer, wine, cider, or spirits in general has been linked to chronic inflammation.

Fried foods – Ah, there go the French fries, onion rings, hamburgers and potato chips! But the nature of fried foods makes them inflammatory offenders.

You get the picture. Who doesn’t love a thick, juicy hamburger and a side of hot, seasoned french fries? Unfortunately if your daily meals are dominated by the foods like those listed above, inflammation can whittle its way into your body.

When looking for natural treatments for joint pain, food should always be your first line of defense. Here are eight excellent anti-inflammatory edibles:

Alcohol – Remember, excessive drinking is a problem in terms of making inflammation worse, but moderate drinking is reported to lower the potential for cardiovascular disease and isn’t considered an inflammatory issue.

Vegetable oils – Omega-3 fatty acid vegetable oils such as virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, and hemp oil are good substitutes for those Omega-6 fatty acids that you should avoid. The Omega-3 fatty acids help fight inflammation responses.

Whole grain foods – Any food containing whole grain is great for inflammation reduction because of the fiber content. Fiber tends to reduce the level of some inflammation causing proteins.

Soy milk – A good substitute for cow milk; or try rice milk or almond milk.

Olive oil – This is an excellent substitute for margarine. Or try ghee, a clarified butter, which consists of milk fat that’s been rendered from butter, separating water and milk solids from the milk’s butterfat.

For your own comfort and health, grab a few of these nutritious foods the next time you’re grocery shopping.

A High Quality Supplement Designed to Fight Joint Pain

When you’re eating well and you still have pain, it may be time to try a natural supplement. Inflammease is a Boswellia-Turmeric Complex containing botanical extracts that provide support and protection for the body’s connective tissues. That means it’s not only good for your joints, but also the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Inflammease contains a combinations of three well-researched herbs, Boswellia serrata, Turmeric root, and Devil’s Claw. All three contain powerful compounds that act as anti-oxidants and inflammation fighters.

Don’t let fall and winter slow you down!

Stiff, aching joints can be helped. You have choices! The right diet, exercise, and a supplement such as Inflammease are all safe and natural treatments for joint pain.

If you frequently eat exotic dishes like chicken tandoori, or spicy curries, you may be doing your body a favor.

Turmeric, a favored spice in Indian cuisine is what adds the wonderful rich, golden color to curries as well as the bright yellow to traditional mustard. It is an herb that has been used for centuries in both Indian and Chinese traditional medicine.

But for those of you who frequently turn to your chiropractor for help, this pungent herb may offer surprising ways to reduce joint pain.

When your joints are stiff and sore, inflammation is almost always a factor. Reducing inflammation will make it easier for your chiropractor to provide effective chiropractic treatment to correct spinal and joint misalignments. These misalignments (called vertebral subluxations in the chiropractic world), can hamper the brain from communicating effectively with the body. It is believed that spinal subluxations can be a factor in everything from headaches and high blood pressure, to stomach problems and poor leg circulation.

Eating Spices can be effective ways to reduce joint pain

This is where turmeric can play an important role. Curcumin is the most active pharmacological agent in turmeric, and it is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin is so effective in reducing inflammation that it has been compared to Ibuprofen, and to prescription medications such as hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone.

Fortunately, like many other herbal remedies, turmeric has no toxicity. Compare this to the pharmaceutical drugs mentioned above which have been linked to stomach ulcers, increased risk of stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding. Curcumin can also increase the liver’s ability to detoxify our bodies of unwanted substances.

The curcumin in turmeric has been used to treat other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis successfully, and shows promise for many other troubling diseases like Alzheimers.

Curcumin as an antioxidant

Within everyone’s bodies, there are certain chemicals that move through our systems creating problems by damaging healthy cells and cell membranes. These chemicals are called free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for inflammation and damage that occurs in joints from diseases like arthritis. But many people have been able to find relief from the pain and discomfort of arthritis by drawing upon the combined antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power of curcumin. Some of the improvements cited were less joint swelling and stiffness and more comfort when walking.

Promising protection against a variety of diseases

Curcumin has also been used to prevent and to inhibit the growth of cancer. This is accomplished mainly through its antioxidant properties. It is also likely that curcumin can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and lower cholesterol

Don’t like the flavor of turmeric?

Even if you don’t like turmeric’s warm, peppery flavor, or don’t want to eat it every day, you can still get all the advantages of turmeric and the vital compound, curcumin, through nutritional supplements. One of our favorite products is Inflavonoid by Metagenics. This professional grade supplement is available through our website and our office. It contains curcumin, bioflavonoids, ginger and vitamin C.

About our office

At Texas Spine and Wellness we offer advanced treatment for neck, back and joint pain, through chiropractic treatment, massage therapy and physical rehab. We also offer lab-based nutritional medicine and counseling. If you would like to discuss how Dr. Mixon and his staff of health care professionals can offer ways to reduce joint pain while improving your range of motion, please call contact our Garland chiropractic office at (972) 840-2520.

Patient Testimonials

Back Surgery Averted

“My surgery was scheduled and I was just waiting… My husband went to Dr. Mixon and asked if I would just go talk to him first (before surgery). The rest is history. Dr. Mixon started me on Spinal Decompression and within a month of treatment onset, I felt amazing. I canceled my surgery and now I am on maintenance treatment once a month.Linda B. –Garland, TX

Comfortable Pregnancy

“Dr. Mixon, I cannot thank you enough fort the relief you provided me. When I walked into your office eight months pregnant, I was resigned to suffering with several more weeks of back pain. I just needed some relief! I felt better after the first adjustment and much to my amazement, the second adjustment provided me with 100% relief! Thanks.Lisa P. –Dallas, TX

Disc Pain Gone

“ I highly recommend Dr. Mixon. He has done wonders for me. I had numbness and tingling in my arm as a result of a bugling disc in my neck. After a couple of months of treatment, it feels 100% better. In addition, He and his entire staff are awesome!Afton M. –Garland, TX